CHEVROLET Corvette C5 Coupe 1997-2004 Photos, engines & full specs

It was the last Corvette with pop-up headlights and it brought the 50-50 weight distribution to the range. The C5 generation was a big improvement for the well-known American sports-car.

The Corvette, along with the Mustang, was the only American sports-car continuously produced since its first generation, but it appeared a decade before the “Stang” showed to the party. It was constantly improved and survived all the oil crises of the XX-th century.

Sleek, low, and with a stance that couldn't be mistaken with any other sports-car on the market, the Corvette kept its promise to offer exhilarating performance at a bargain price. There was no other car on the market to sprint as fast as it, and have the same price. The long hood featured two wide bulges on it to evoke the V8 under the hood. The fastback look with a long rear windscreen and the short trunk were some of its characteristics.

Inside, the Corvette didn't offer the same high-quality materials or fittings. But the low seating position and the high center console were typical for a sports-car.

The drivetrain was transaxle with the engine in the front and the gearbox in the back. Unlike its predecessors, the differential was integrated into the gearbox instead and not as a separate unit as before. The LS1, small-block 5.7-liter V8 was upgraded, but it still featured a push-rod configuration, which was considered outdated for most of the European cars. It offered only 345 hp, but due to its high torque at low revs and the light, plastic, bodywork, it could outrun most of the cars on the market. It was offered with either a 6-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.